Patrick Swayze

Patrick Wayne Swayze (born August 18, 1952) is an American dancer, actor, singer and songwriter, memorable for his roles in the popular films Dirty Dancing (where he wrote and composed the hit song She's Like the Wind) (1987), Ghost (1990), and Point Break (1991).

He also appeared in Red Dawn (1984), Road House (1989), Black Dog (1998), and Donnie Darko (2001). He is also famous for the North and South miniseries.

The son of Jesse Wayne Swayze and choreographer and ballet school owner Patricia Yvonne Helen Karnes, he was born in Houston, Texas. Swayze attended Oak Forest Elementary School, Black Middle School, and Waltrip High School in Houston. Swayze formally trained at the Harkness and Joffrey Ballet Schools in New York City. His first professional appearance was as a dancer for Disney on Parade, then in the Broadway production of Grease, before his debut film role as Ace in Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979). He also appeared in the M*A*S*H episode Blood Brothers. He is currently starring as Nathan Detroit in the London production of Guys and Dolls.